Modular Decorative Landscape Product and Associated Methods

ABSTRACT

Modular landscape devices, systems, and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a modular landscape device can include a plurality of molded structures formed from an aggregate material, where each molded structure has a display surface and a buried surface. The device also includes at least one tether connecting the plurality of molded structures together to form the modular landscape device. In one aspect, each of the plurality of molded structures are not in contact with another of the plurality of molded structures.

PRIORITY DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/084,286, filed Nov. 19, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/737,434 filed Jan. 9, 2013, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/584,719,filed on Jan. 9, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Often in landscaping, it is desirable to create stone, rock, or brickarrangements on a landscaping surface. This is often accomplished byobtaining numerous stones, rocks, or bricks, and painstakingly arrangingthese materials into the desired structure. Such structures can includepathways, walls, edging, patio surfaces, and the like. Generally, soilis removed from a desired area and leveled to create a working surfacefor placing the landscaping materials. The materials are thenindividually placed into the desired area and in some cases leveled toinsure a uniform surface. A filler material is placed in between therock or stone materials in order to maintain the stability of thesurface and the rocks and stones to one another. Such a traditionallandscaping design is labor intensive and often requires professionallandscaping help.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides modular landscape devices, systems, andassociated methods. In one aspect, for example, a modular landscapedevice can include a plurality of molded structures formed from anaggregate material, where each molded structure has a display surfaceand a buried surface. The device also includes at least one tetherconnecting the plurality of molded structures together to form themodular landscape device. In one aspect, each of the plurality of moldedstructures is not in contact with another of the plurality of moldedstructures.

The display surface of the molded structures can resemble a variety oflandscaping materials. In one aspect, for example, the display surfacehas a façade resembling a paving structure. In another aspect, thefaçade resembles a brick structure. In yet another aspect, the façaderesembles a rock, including naturally formed rock, structure. In someaspects, different molded structures may have different facades.

The present disclosure additionally provides methods for using a modularlandscape device. In one aspect, for example, a method of assembling alandscaping pathway includes arranging at least one modular landscapedevice on a landscaping substrate, where the modular landscape deviceincludes a plurality of molded structures formed from an aggregatematerial and having a gap there between, each molded structure having adisplay side and a buried side, and at least one tether connecting theplurality of molded structures together to form the modular landscapedevice. The method also includes disposing a landscaping filler in thegap between the plurality of molded structures to cover the at least onetether while leaving at least a majority of the display side exposed,thus forming a landscaping pathway. In another aspect, the method canfurther include cutting at least one tether to release at least onemolded structure from the modular landscape device to alter a shape orconfiguration of the modular landscape device.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a landscaping pathwaystructure including a plurality of modular landscape devices arrangedaccording to the method described above.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, various features of theinvention so that the detailed description thereof that follows may bebetter understood, and so that the present contribution to the art maybe better appreciated. Other features of the present invention willbecome clearer from the following detailed description of the invention,taken with the accompanying claims, or may be learned by the practice ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a modular landscape device from a display side, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a modular landscape device from a buried side, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of a modular landscape device from a display side, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a landscaping pathway, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of a landscaping pathway, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of a landscaping pathway, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of a landscaping pathway, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

In describing and claiming the present invention, the followingterminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forthbelow.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and, “the” include plural referents unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to“a structure” includes reference to one or more of such structures, andreference to “the tether” includes reference to one or more of suchtethers.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to anumerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “alittle above” or “a little below” the endpoint.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete ornearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property,state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is“substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completelyenclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree ofdeviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on thespecific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completionwill be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and totalcompletion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equallyapplicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the completeor near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state,structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is“substantially free of” particles would either completely lackparticles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect wouldbe the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, acomposition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element maystill actually contain such item as long as there is no measurableeffect thereof.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based ontheir presentation in a common group without indications to thecontrary.

Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format.It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely forconvenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly toinclude not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limitsof the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values orsub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value andsub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical rangeof “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only theexplicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also includeindividual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus,included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as wellas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies toranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum.Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of thebreadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

The Invention

The present modular landscape devices allow landscaping structures orfeatures such as pathways, borders, patios, beds, steps, or dividers, tobe relatively easy and straightforward to form, having a continuous lookbetween separate portions of the structure, while at the same timeaccounting for straight, angled, and curved structures. As an example,such a pathway can be utilized on a variety of types of ground,including uneven and sloped portions, and can be aesthetically pleasing,and thus add value to the surrounding landscape.

As such, the present disclosure relates to modular landscape devices,systems, and associated methods. The modular landscape devices areconfigured to visibly resemble a landscaping material such as decorativestone, including natural, or quarried/carved rock or stone. Thesemodular devices eliminate or reduce the need to tediously evaluate,match, and individually place, or otherwise arrange materials into avisibly pleasing arrangement. Furthermore, the modular devices eliminatethe need to place and cement individual stones or pieces together tosecure them together and to arrange them as is most pleasing to the eye.

In one aspect, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example, a modularlandscape device includes a plurality of molded structures 12 formedfrom an aggregate material, with each molded structure 12 having adisplay surface 14 and a buried surface 16. The device can furtherinclude at least one tether 18 connecting the plurality of moldedstructures 12 together to form the modular landscape device. As can beseen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one aspect the molded structures 12 are not incontact with one another, but are coupled via the tether 18. However, insome embodiments, one or more molded structures may be in contact withor substantially in contact with at least one other molded structure inthe device. Another example of a modular landscape device having moldedstructures 12 with a display surface 14 is shown in FIG. 3.

The modular landscape device can be constructed of a material havingsufficient strength to withstand loads from a person walking thereon.Moreover, the molded structures can be formed using a mold to achieve adesired shape and/or decorative façade. In one aspect, the moldedstructures can be constructed from an aggregate material. Generally“aggregate” is a collective term for sand, gravel and crushed stonemineral materials in their natural or processed state. However,aggregate may also simply mean a number of small materials combined toform an overall structure. In some cases, an aggregate material mayinclude aggregate and a binder, such as for example, cement. Anaggregate material may also include reinforcing elements such as fibers,bars, grids, plates, netting, webbing, or any other reinforcementconfiguration. Reinforcing elements may be made of glass, metal, carbon,wood, polymers, textiles, or any other natural or syntheticreinforcement material. In one aspect, an aggregate material can beglass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). Thus, aggregate material is oneexample of a material that can provide the necessary strength towithstand loads from a person walking thereon.

As has been described, the molded structures can be formed using a moldto match a desired shape. Additionally, the mold can be textured in away that allows such texture to be imprinted on the display surface ofthe molded structure. Such a texture can provide the molded structurewith a façade representing various landscaping structures. For example,in one aspect the façade can resemble a paving structure. Othernon-limiting examples of landscaping structure façades include rock,stone, brick, wood, and the like, including combinations thereof. In onespecific aspect, the façade resembles a brick paving structure. Inanother aspect, the façade resembles a rock paving structure.Additionally, a textured surface of the molded structure can providetraction to a person walking thereon, thus reducing the incidence ofslipping when walking thereupon.

Furthermore, the molded structures can be colored on at least thedisplay surface to further resemble a landscaping material. In someaspects the display surface may be colored while the buried surface isuncolored. The coloring can be added to the aggregate or other materialfrom which the molded structure is made, or the coloring can bespecifically applied to the display surface. As such, in one aspect themolded structure can include decorative coloring on the display surface.In some aspects, the molded structure can comprise or consist of anaggregate material and a coloring agent.

The tethers that tie the molded structures together can be made of avariety of materials, and any material capable of holding thesestructures together is considered to be within the present scope. Thetether can be self-supporting or non-self-supporting, depending on thedesign of the modular structure. Furthermore, the tether can be madefrom any material capable of performing as described. Non-limitingexamples include metals, ceramics, cloth, rope, twine, cord, polymers,cables, including multi-strand cables, and the like. The tether can beformed in various shapes, including rods, bars, sheets, string-like,webbing or netting, and the like. In some aspects, when a sheet is usedas a tether, the sheet may fill any space between the molded structures.Further, when the tether is a sheet, the tether may connect each moldedstructure along a bottom surface thereof. In some aspects, the eachmolded structure may be connected to at least one adjacent moldedstructure by a tether. In other aspects, each molded structure may beconnected to all adjacent molded structures by a tether. In someaspects, the tether may be a single piece running through each moldedstructure. In other aspects, multiple tether lines may be used eitheralong the bottom of the molded structures or running therethrough.

In addition, the vertical placement of the tether in the moldedstructures may vary. In some aspects, it is closer to the bottom of themolded structures than to the top thereof In some aspects, it may besubstantially at the vertical midpoint of the molded structures. In somecases, it may be at the bottom of the molded structures, and in fact, insome embodiments, such as the use of a sheet as the tether, the bottomsurface of the molded structure may actually rest on top and be fixedto, the tether. In some aspects, the tether may connect with the moldedstructures at a level that allows landscaping fill placed between themolded structures to cover the tether, or any remnant thereof, whileleaving a top portion of the molded structures exposed above the fillmaterial. In some aspects, the molded structures may protrude out of thefill material for at least about half of the height of the moldedstructures. In other aspects, the molded structures may protrude out ofthe fill material for at least about one quarter of the height of themolded structures. In yet another aspect, the placement of the tethermay allow the molded structures to protrude above the fill material forabout 90% to about 5% of the height of the molded structures.

It is contemplated that, once the modular landscaping structure is inplace, a filler material can be disposed in between the moldedstructures. The filler material can cover the tethers and allow thedecorative side of the molded structures to show in between regions offiller material. Thus, an impression of specifically placed andsemi-buried rocks, stones, bricks, etc. is produced. The filler materialcan be any landscaping filler material known, such as for example, sand,dirt, moss, mulch, gravel, cement, clay, and the like, includingcombinations thereof. It should be noted that the molded structures donot necessarily require the filler material to maintain stabilityrelative to one another, as the tether can serve such a purpose. Rather,in many cases the filler is merely decorative and does not providesignificant support to the molded structures. In other cases, the fillermaterial may provide significant support to the molded structures,particularly in those aspects where the tether is non-self-supporting.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, multiple modular landscapedevices can be arranged together to form a landscaping pathway or otherlandscaping structure. As is shown in FIG. 4, for example, a stonepathway 40 is formed by arranging a plurality of modular landscapedevices 42 in a path-like arrangement. Filler material 44 can beintroduced into the gaps between the modular landscape devices 42 andinto the gaps between the molded structures of the modular landscapedevices 42 to facilitate the impression of the pathway 40.

As such, the present disclosure provides methods of assembling alandscape pathway. In one aspect, such a method can include arranging atleast one modular landscape device on a landscaping substrate, where themodular landscape device includes a plurality of molded structuresformed from an aggregate material and having a gap there between, eachmolded structure having a display side and a buried side and at leastone tether connecting the plurality of molded structures together toform the modular landscape device. The method can also include disposinga landscaping filler in the gap between the plurality of moldedstructures to cover the at least one tether while leaving at least aportion of the display side exposed, thus forming a landscaping pathway.In some cases a majority of the display side of one or more, or of each,of the molded structures may be exposed. Depending on the physicalcharacteristics of the tether, in one aspect the gap between moldedstructures is maintained by the at least one tether. Such would be thecase if the tether was stiff and/or self-supporting, as would be thecase for rod-type tethers. In some cases, the tether is not stiff or isotherwise slack or limp, such as a string or cord. In some aspects, themolded structures do not need to be buried, but may simply rest upon alandscape surface. In such cases, the buried side will be exposed exceptfor the portion resting upon the landscape surface.

In one aspect, the modular landscape device can have at least one tethercut or otherwise broken to release at least one of the molded structuresfrom the modular landscape device. This would thus allow the overallshape of the modular landscape device to be altered. Such alteration maybe useful for creating distinctive pathway shapes, laying a pathwayaround an object such as a tree or large rock, curving or angling thepathway, and the like. One example of such a pathway is shown in FIG. 5,where molded structures have been removed to create a narrowing pathway.Another example, as is shown in FIG. 6, provides a distinctivenon-regular shape for a pathway that has been created by removing moldedstructures from the modular landscape devices used to create thepathway.

In addition to horizontal or substantially horizontal plane pathways, itis also contemplated that pathways can be formed from modular landscapedevices that are positioned along non-horizontal surfaces. Non-limitingexamples of such non-horizontal surfaces include inclined substrates,curved substrates, irregular substrates, and the like. As is shown inFIG. 7, for example, a landscaping pathway has been created across acurved landscape substrate that rises and falls in elevation along withthe landscape substrate.

It should be noted that the modular landscape devices can be utilized tocreate a variety of landscaping structures in addition to pathways.Non-limiting examples can include patio surfaces, substrates for pondsor other water structures, decorative garden arrangements, and the like.It should also be noted that the molded structures of the presentinvention, while in some aspects may be fabricated using a mold, thatsuch is not necessary. For example, there are a number of ways ofmolding an object, including methods that place a material into a moldwhich is then removed, or by shaping an object using tools or otherimplements without insertion into a typical mold.

Of course, it is to be understood that the above-described arrangementsare only illustrative of the application of the principles of thepresent invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangementsmay be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims areintended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while thepresent invention has been described above with particularity and detailin connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical andpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, butnot limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function andmanner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing fromthe principles and concepts set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular landscape device, comprising: aplurality of molded structures formed from a cement material, eachmolded structure molded into a desired shape having a display surfaceand a buried surface; and at least one tether connecting the pluralityof molded structures together to form the modular landscape device. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of moldedstructures are not in contact with another of the plurality of moldedstructures.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the display surface has afaçade resembling a paving structure.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe façade resembles a brick paving structure.
 5. The device of claim 1,wherein the façade resembles a rock paving structure.
 6. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the tether is self-supporting.
 7. The device of claim1, wherein the tether is not self-supporting.
 8. The device of claim 1,further comprising a landscaping filler distributed between theplurality of molded structures.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein themolded structures consist of cement and coloring agent.
 10. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the molded structures further include decorativecoloring on the display surface.
 11. A method of assembling alandscaping pathway, comprising: arranging at least one modularlandscape device on a landscaping substrate, the modular landscapedevice including: a plurality of molded structures formed from a cementmaterial and having a gap there between, each molded structure having adisplay side and a buried side; and at least one tether connecting theplurality of molded structures together to form the modular landscapedevice; and disposing a landscaping filler in the gap between theplurality of molded structures to cover the at least one tether whileleaving at least a majority of the display side exposed, thus forming alandscaping pathway.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the gap ismaintained by the at least one tether.
 13. The method of claim 11,further comprising cutting at least one tether to release at least onemolded structure from the modular landscape device to alter a shape ofthe modular landscape device.
 14. A landscaping pathway structure,comprising a plurality of modular landscape devices arranged as in claim11.
 15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the plurality of modularlandscape devices are positioned on a substantially horizontallandscaping substrate.
 16. The structure of claim 14, wherein theplurality of modular landscape devices are positioned on an inclinedlandscaping substrate.
 17. The structure of claim 14, wherein theplurality of modular landscape devices are positioned on a curvedlandscaping substrate.